PART
3: Just the Beginning “I just don’t get it.
You’re the richest girl I know, but you still have to walk home? Don’t
you have a personal driver or something?” Merle seemed to ask a ton of
questions on their way home from school.“I can FLY home if
I want to!” Bra wanted to yell, but of course she didn’t. Merle would just
ask more questions. “Let’s just say I prefer walking and enjoying the surroundings,”
she told her friend, rolling her eyes.While they were talking,
a guy suddenly showed up from behind them and patted Bra’s left shoulder.

“B-chan!”

Bra turned around and
was obviously shocked. “Goten-kun!” she exclaimed. “You scared the crapout of me!”“Whoops! Gomen, B-chan!”
Goten put his hands together like he was praying for forgiveness. “Glad
to see you here!”“Why?”“Didn’t Trunks tell
you?”“Obviously not! I’m
not home yet! What is he going to tell me?” Bra asked.“Well, my mom suggested
another family get-together, since everyone hasn’t been together for a
long time!”“What do you mean?
It’s only been about six months since my mom made dinner for everyone at
our house.” Bra frowned.“Well, yeah, but that
was only a big dinner. Now we’re having a big picnic.”“Pic—picnic?” Bra stammered
a drop of sweat rolled down her forehead. Someone would NOT like that.
Yes. Her father. He hates picnics.“Yes! A picnic!” Goten
sounded extremely excited. “So are you coming?”“Of course I will!”
Bra smiled up at him.“Great! I’ll see you
there!” Goten waved goodbye and left. His smile had never ever seemed so
sweet. Somehow, Bra forgot all about her friends who were standing beside
her.“Whoa…who was that?”
Merle asked, watching Goten walk off. “He is majorly cute!”“Pan’s uncle.”“Son Pan? Isn’t she
Mr. Satan’s granddaughter?”Bra nodded.“How old is he?” Merle
asked, referring to Goten.Bra thought for a while,
then answered. “He’s twenty-seven.”“No kidding! He looks
about twenty…and one very fine, good-looking guy!”Yeah, well, look at
my father and tell me that you believe he’s already 60+, Bra thought. That
was another thing she was proud of, being part-Saiyajin, she’ll stay young…maybe
forever.“Well, does he have
a girlfriend?” Merle grinned.Bra wanted to say “Yes,”
but somehow she couldn’t. “You just LOVE to ask questions, don’t you?”
she replied.Merle just giggled
and started to walk again, but Bra stood there motionless, thinking about
what she felt while talking to Goten. Why did I feel so nervous? she thought.
Her head is still pounding, and she knew it wasn’t because of the shock
she felt when Goten patted her shoulder, but when he was standing there
talking to her, when he smiled, when he chuckled, when he waved goodbye…it
was all happening too fast. Bra stared at the road Goten had gone down.